Images from the Lee County Athletic Conference championships at Estero Community Park on Thursday morning. Alayna Goll from Estero High School was the girls winner. Fort Myers High Schoolwas the overall team winner. (Photo: Andrew West/news-press.com)Buy Photo

“My strategy was to get out fast and try to open up a gap,” said Oliver. “Around the last hill I decided to go for it.”

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Images from the Lee County Athletic Conference championships at Estero Community Park on Thursday morning. Alayna Goll from Estero High School was the girls winner. Fort Myers High Schoolwas the overall team winner. (Photo: Andrew West/news-press.com)

Oliver pulled away over the last mile, breezing to a 30 second victory over MacKenzie.

Meanwhile a group of sophomores and freshmen led by Stephanie Ormsby, Mallory Marker and Sarah Laboda cracked the top 10 for Fort Myers to seal the team title.

“Our freshmen are doing really, really well. They are buying into the program and into the training and as a result we’re seeing positive results,” said Fort Myers head coach Ron Tabb. “We had some PR’s which is always good on a hard week.”

Cape Coral secured second thanks to strong performances by a pair of juniors, Kelsey Miskimins and Cheyenne Young, who finished third and fourth, respectfully. Charlotte High School rounded out the top three and will advance to regionals.

A group of five moved away early with Fort Myers’ Reese Novella and Kyle Skinner, tracked by Port Charlotte’s John Perez, Ida Baker’s Ryan Ringer and Mariner’s Dylan Reichenbacher.

Skinner began pushing the tempo after a mile, pulling Perez with him and then the real fireworks started just after two miles.

“Before the hill at the second mile I decided to go for it. It felt a little early but I just had to keep pushing, and it worked out in my favor,” said Perez.

Skinner saluted Perez’s effort, “I was pushing at the end but he just didn’t let up. I kept trying to get back up with him and he just ran amazing.”

Skinner, just a sophomore, finished eight seconds behind Perez with Novella hanging on for third.

Fort Myers rounded out their team victory with sophomore Jonathan Edwards in ninth, freshman Paul Kolsun in 11th and senior Zachary Cooper in 12th.

Team first is behind the success according to Green Wave head coach Yancey Palmer, “They wanted to work together and help each other out. All of them are just awesome kids who have made huge sacrifices.”

Port Charlotte and Ida Baker will move on to next week’s regional where the team battle should revolve around Naples, Gulf Coast, Estero and Fort Myers where the top six advance to state.

“It’s going to be really tough to get the championship, first place is so much happier than sixth,” Palmer said.